Charity watchdog to probe sale of Commonweal Lodge School

A CHARITY watchdog is looking into the sale of Commonweal Lodge after a mother claimed she would have bought the site and kept it running as a school.

A mother has contacted the Advertiser to say she was prepared to pay up to £2 million more than the eventual buyer.

Businesswoman Karen Haddon, whose daughter Jamie went to the Purley school, has asked the Charities Commission to investigate her claim she was not given copies of key paperwork in time to make a decision.

And the commission has now agreed to probe the sale, having received the complaint.

The Advertiser revealed last week the new owner of the Commonweal site is Linda Jenkins, who works for Cognita-owned Cumnor House school in Croydon.

It is understood Mrs Jenkins bought the property for £2 million.

But Mrs Haddon said: "This school was brilliant, no other school would even come close.

"I couldn't believe it when I found out it was going to close and I immediately offered my services. I have lots of contacts who would have come together to make an attractive offer."

The Advertiser has seen documents showing Mrs Haddon repeatedly asked for accounts from school accountant Martin Rooney to make her offer.

Mrs Haddon alleges that Mr Rooney did not send the correct documents for several weeks and then told her an offer must be made within nine days.

Mrs Haddon has now urged the watchdog to independently investigate how the land was sold. She thinks her offer would have protected the charity's assets.

She said: "I am deeply concerned the sale was not in the best interests of the school.

"As this was a charitable trust, I believe someone has a duty to investigate fully."

A Charities Commission spokesman said: "We will be considering the concerns in order to determine what, if any, regulatory role there may be."

Because Commonweal Lodge was owned by a charity, Lodge and West Dene Educational Trust, its governors must follow a strict protocol to make sure it is getting the best value for money.